1._And Moses, with the elders. _This precept is of the same character as those that have preceded it; for, as God would have His precepts written on the door-posts, and on the borders of their garments, so that they might constantly meet their eyes, so also would He have a monument existing at the v... [ Continue Reading ]
5_And there shalt thou build an altar. _At their first entrance into the land, God commands that a sacrifice of thanksgiving should be offered to Him; and this Joshua performed, as is related in Joshua 8:30 "Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal; as Moses the servant... [ Continue Reading ]
The ground of his exhortation is again taken from the special favor of adoption, wherewith the God of Abraham had honored them; for there was nothing which should have more _effectually _stimulated them to obedience, than that more than paternal love, and the gratuitous kindness with which He had pr... [ Continue Reading ]
11._And Moses charged the people the same day_. In order that both the promises and threats might have more efficacy in affecting the minds of all, God enjoined not only that they should be proclaimed in a solemn rite, but also that they should be approved by the people in a loud voice, and sealed,... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Cursed be the man that maketh any graven_. Hence it appears that Moses is silent as to the half (of what he had spoken of before; (199)) for no mention is made of the blessings (200) which occupied before the first place. Perhaps the Spirit would indirectly rebuke the wickedness of the people, f... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Cursed be he that setteth light by his father_. What follows refers to the Second Table of the Law; and, first, He pronounces those cursed who should be undutiful ( _impii_) to their parents; for the word קלל, _kalal_, (201) which means to despise, as well as to curse, is put in opposition to th... [ Continue Reading ]
26._Cursed is he that confirmeth not_. Although it was God’s purpose to summon the consciences of all men before Him, and, in order that they might not only fear human judgments, He designedly threatened them with the punishment of secret sins, yet the conclusion, which is now added, extends the sam... [ Continue Reading ]